Lillian Axe - Deep Red Shadows

Lillian exploring their dark side.Over the past couple of years Lillian Axe has been putting out records that are darker and less melodic than the music that they created back in the day.  I have to say I miss the glory days, but the darker material ain't half bad either.  The band has just released their 8th studio album Deep Red Shadows, which is the last to feature vocalist Derreck Le Fevre.  Le Fevre left the band shortly after the recording of the CD.  Ex-Metal Church vocalist Ronny Munroe took the helm temporarily, before recently departing as well, leaving the band without a vocalist.   Not sure what the fate of the band will be, but at least we have a new release to talk about.

Deep Red Shadows continues the darker direction that the band had adopted back in 2007 for Water's Rising (Which I thought was a killer CD).  This new record is a little different though, because about half of the CD is acoustic based while the other half is electric.  The electric songs which dominate the beginning of the CD are dark and have a modern flair about them.  The Acoustic tracks are more melodic and a little more enjoyable.  Dont' get me wrong the opening track Under the Same Moon is a solid track, but I think the acoustic tracks are just a little stronger.  Not a bad CD, but not a great one either.  It feels like the CD was rushed, possibly by the impending departure of Le Fevre, and lacks the cohesiveness of previous releases.

Bottom Line: A darker more grungier Lillian, but with some bright spots of melody mixed in.  The songs are good but not as catchy as with previous releases.

Standout Tracks: A Minute of Years, Nobody Knows, Under the Same Moon and Noctrunal Symphony.

Ragman has seen darker days.